. >> reporter: robert hale the chief's pentagon budget officer says the furlough will save the government $4 billion to $5 billion, but president obama says the cuts should be made elsewhere. >> there's no reason they should be furloughed or laid off. >> president obama is trying to pin the blame for the last-minute budget crisis on congress and with both chambers on recess this week he has the stage here in washington all to himself. >> i'm hoping while they're back home, they're hearing it from their constituents so when they get back here, they're ready to do some work and we can avoid these automatic spending cuts. >> but congressmen back home may not be getting the earful the president's hoping for. while nearly half of the americans want to avoid it less than 40% want to let it happen and some of capitol hill agree with the 40%. >> not only should the sequester stand. many pundits say the sequester falls short. >> if the cuts kick in, that same poll shows more people would blame republicans in congress than the president. now some areas these budget cuts will not affect social secur